My most fervent prayer is to be a President who can make it possible for every boy in this land to grow to manhood by loving his country--instead of dying for it. Lyndon B. Johnson More Quotes by Lyndon B. Johnson More Quotes From Lyndon B. Johnson I believe that the essence of government lies with unceasing concern for the welfare and dignity and decency and innate integrity of life for every individual. I dont like to say this and wish I didnt have to add these words to make it clear but I willregardless of color, creed, ancestry, sex or age. Lyndon B. Johnson integrity lying sex In the Great Society, work shall be an outlet for mans interests and desires. Each individual shall have full opportunity to use his capacities in employment which satisfies personally and contributes generally to the quality of the Nations life. Lyndon B. Johnson quality desire opportunity Now we may have more preachers out there than we have drinkers. But a fellow told me a story one time about a man down in Kentuckywhere they make bourbon. And he said you can take a jigger or two jiggers and get by all right. But if you try to take the whole bottle why you have lost what you started with. So don't try to take it too quick. And don't try to do all of it at once. I don't do much promising. I tell what my goals are and then I try to wrap it up and put a blue ribbon on it and get it delivered. We say put the coonskin on the wall. Lyndon B. Johnson wall drinking character But, most of all, the Great Society is not a safe harbor, a resting place, a final objective, a finished work. It is a challenge constantly renewed, beckoning us toward a destiny where the meaning of our lives matches the marvelous products of our labor. Lyndon B. Johnson destiny society challenges A President must call on many persons--some to man the ramparts and to watch the far away, distant posts; others to lead us in science, medicine, education and social progress here at home. Lyndon B. Johnson leadership education home The family is the corner stone of our society. Lyndon B. Johnson our-society family stones The purposeful many need not and will not bow to the willful few. Lyndon B. Johnson bows needs As it was 189 years ago, so today the cause of America is a revolutionary cause. And I am proud this morning to salute you as fellow revolutionaries. Neither you nor I are willing to accept the tyranny of poverty, nor the dictatorship of ignorance, nor the despotism of ill health, nor the oppression of bias and prejudice and bigotry. We want change. We want progress. We want it both abroad and at homeand we aim to get it. Lyndon B. Johnson bias-and-prejudice ignorance morning We have heard all of our lives how, after the Civil War was over, the South went back to straighten itself out and make a living again. It was for many years a voiceless part of the government. The balance of power moved away from it--to the north and the east. The problems of the north and the east became the big problem of the country and nobody paid much attention to the economic unbalance the South had left as its only choice. Lyndon B. Johnson adversity war country There is nothing that exasperates people more than a display of superior ability or brilliance in conversation. They seem pleased at the time, but their envy makes them curse the conversationalist in their heart. Lyndon B. Johnson envy heart people As the House is designed to provide a reflection of the mood of the moment, the Senate is meant to reflect the continuity of the past--to preserve the delicate balance of justice between the majority's whims and the minority's rights. Lyndon B. Johnson equality reflection past War is always the same. It is young men dying in the fullness of their promise. It is trying to kill a man that you do not even know well enough to hate. Therefore, to know war is to know that there is still madness in the world. Lyndon B. Johnson hate war peace I don't think that I need to tell you how important to the outcome of that race is the education legislation that is now before the Congress. I hope that it is important enough that most of you have studied it in detail. I hope that you understand that it represents the very best thinking that the leading educators of this country can produce. Lyndon B. Johnson education country thinking The family is the corner stone of our society. More than any other force it shapes the attitude, the hopes, the ambitions, and the values of the child. And when the family collapses it is the children that are usually damaged. When it happens on a massive scale the community itself is crippled. Lyndon B. Johnson family attitude children All I have I would have given gladly not to be standing here today. Lyndon B. Johnson presidential given today The Russians feared Ike. They didn't fear me. Lyndon B. Johnson political war history If you're not listening, you're not learning. Lyndon B. Johnson conflict business listening I once told Nixon that the Presidency is like being a jackass caught in a hail storm. You've got to just stand there and take it. Lyndon B. Johnson hail caught storm I feel like I just grabbed a big juicy worm with a right sharp hook in the middle of it. Lyndon B. Johnson juicy hook middle Whoever won't fight when the President calls him, deserves to be kicked back in his hole and kept there. Lyndon B. Johnson uprising fighting president
